One question and one observation.
1] What is "The Cartel"? People talk of it as if it's a monolithic world enterprise. What cartel are people referring to?
2] I have seen the use of "military experience" or "ex-military" so often and I wonder why. Certainly,
some branches and units thereof teach you how to kill but that doesn't equate with killing AND
leaving a clean crime scene. If you were a Marine going through Fallujah house-to-house you
probably were killing people but you didn't give a darn about leaving evidence behind.
3] Someone with LE training would have far more training in how to leave a clean crime scene.
JMO
Very good points.
As for cartel, it was stated by LE that Mexican cartels were not involved. That may or may not be the case, but there are drug cartels in the US, possibly in the general region around southern Ohio/Midwest/Southern US that could be involved.
If that's the case, it's baffling that LE expects innocent locals to put their lives at risk to come forward with any information they might have about the killers. As far as the public knows, LE hasn't offered any kind of protection to potential witnesses or others who might have tips or information.
LE talks about the Rhodens having 3 "commercial" MJ grow operations at 2 of the murder locations
LE is telling others who might be involved in illegal drugs to come forward with information (they stated "this is a murder investigation, not a drug investigation")
Since this case is allegedly related to an MJ grow op, there are likely no drug suppliers to investigate. Rhodens would only need seeds (which they probably already had, or could buy online) and equipment. So, LE must be focusing on locals who have information about:
1) who was buying and distributing the Rhoden brothers MJ, most likely a cartel or similar organized group, or
2) someone who might have been helping finance the grow ops, or
3) someone who saw the Rhodens as a competitor or
4) someone who thought the Rhodens, in their activities growing and selling MJ, were sharing information with LE about others involved in the drug world
I can't imagine any local or family member in their right mind would share information about powerful, dangerous people in the drug world without any protection for themselves, family, etc. from the same people who killed the Rhodens & Hanna Gilley. Why isn't LE offering this protection? If they are, why haven't they said as much during their public messages? It's a small-town, rural area. If someone talks, you can bet the word will get around.
News media reports that locals don't trust LE. It would be helpful to know why they feel this way. It might also help if LE did more to earn their trust. It seems they've been trying some, but they need to do more.
Who exactly are LE chasing? The locals who might know about who the Rhodens were working with, or the actual people in the bigger drug trade who may have called in the hit on the family?
A lot of questions about this case, I'm just tossing out a few.
ETA: Just adding thanks to all providing links to update this case and asking if they don't mind, please also post them in the Media & Timelines thread for future reference. Thanks!
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...mily-Members-Murdered&p=13320267#post13320267